Leadership

About Roland

In 1994, Roland Eklou commenced his journey with a local Baptist Church located in his village in Togo, known as Tsiko – translating to “Thirsty” in English. The church offered an engaging Sunday School program for children, along with an AWANA program. Roland’s fervor for these activities was so intense that he was consistent in his attendance. In fact, it was commonplace to see him as the solitary child participant at Wednesday’s prayer gatherings and the Sunday evening services. These services were particularly unique as they were not frequented by children due to their late timing, sometimes extending up to 9 PM.

Roland’s early experiences were just the first brushstrokes of God’s grand design for his life. Growing up in Africa is fraught with challenges, particularly for children like Roland whose parents are separated. Roland faced many days of hunger, and was frequently expelled from school due to an inability to pay the modest annual tuition of $10. While numerous children in similar circumstances fell into illicit activities and subsequently found themselves in prison, these hardships played a critical role in shaping Roland’s life. God used these challenges to open Roland’s heart to the gospel, particularly the power of divine forgiveness. In June of 1998, a transformative moment occurred – Roland accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.